Safety Warning
DIY auto repair can cause serious injury, fire, or vehicle damage. These guides are for informational purposes only. Always follow OEM torque specs, wear PPE, and consult a certified mechanic if you are unsure. You are solely responsible for your safety.
Rear Window Defogger Braided Lead Wire
- Use a solder containing 3 percent silver and a rosin flux paste in order to solder and attach the rear defogger bus bar lead wire and/or defogger terminal.
- Buff the repair area with a fine steel wool in order to remove the oxide coating that was formed during window manufacture.
- Use a brush in order to apply the paste-type rosin flux in small quantities to the appropriate area:
- The rear defogger bus bar lead wire
- The defogger terminal repair area
Important: Do not hold the too in one spot or operate the tool on the window for longer than 30-40 seconds.
If the window becomes hot to the touch, allow the window to air cool before proceeding further. Cooling with water may crack the heated window. Avoid excessive pressure in order to ensure that the window will not overheat.
- Coat the solder iron tip with solder. Apply only enough heat to melt the solder and only enough solder to ensure a complete repair.
- Apply the solder to the feed bus bar or the ground bus bar. Draw the soldering iron tip across the fluxed area. Thinly coat the bus bar with solder.
- Apply a small amount of flux to the appropriate areas:
- The underside of the rear defogger bus bar lead wire
- The defogger terminal
- Align the spots with the flux to the appropriate areas:
- The underside of the rear defogger bus bar lead wire
- The defogger terminal A
- Coat the tip of the soldering iron with solder.
- Solder the appropriate areas:
- The underside of the rear defogger bus bar lead wire
- The defogger terminal
- Draw the iron across the fluxed spot. Thinly coat the spot with solder.
- Solder the spot on the braid against the spot on the feed bus bar or the ground bus bar.
- Use pliers in order to hold the appropriate component:
- The rear defogger bus bar lead wire
- The defogger terminal
- Apply heat to the appropriate area in order to ensure the solder spot melts and fuses together:
- The top of the rear defogger bus bar lead wire
- The defogger terminal
Important: Do not remove the holding force until the solder has solidified.
- Remove the excess flux with the solvent.
- Connect the electrical connector.
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When to See a Mechanic
Stop DIY work and contact a certified mechanic immediately if any of the following apply:
- • You smell fuel, burning insulation, or see smoke.
- • Brakes feel soft, pull hard to one side, or make grinding noises.
- • The engine overheats, stalls repeatedly, or misfires under load.
- • You are missing required tools, torque specs, or safe lifting equipment.
- • You are not confident in the next step or safety outcome.